Lawyer salary in North Carolina
Lawyers in North Carolina earn a median of $127,710 a year ($61.40 an hour), based on BLS data for 17,000 workers.
Pay ranges from $61,610 for the lowest-paid 10% to $323,720 for the top 10%. That is 20% lower than the national median of $159,670. North Carolina ranks 29th of 51 states for lawyers pay. There are 3.4 lawyers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.71). The average (mean) salary is $160,340, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for lawyers in North Carolina
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $61,610 | $29.62 |
| 25th percentile | $82,220 | $39.53 |
| Median | $127,710 | $61.40 |
| 75th percentile | $210,130 | $101.02 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $323,720 | $155.63 |
| Average (mean) | $160,340 | $77.09 |
Half of lawyers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $10,642.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,321.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,911.92 |
| Weekly | $2,455.96 |
| Hourly | $61.40 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $127,710 salary, see how much house you can afford in North Carolina at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Lawyer salary in cities in North Carolina
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $157,180 | 5,380 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $133,380 | 2,280 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $132,790 | 1,220 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $131,920 | 4,350 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $126,960 | 980 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $126,250 | 830 |
| Goldsboro, NC | $113,980 | 70 |
| Wilmington, NC | $109,620 | 480 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $107,950 | 320 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $105,510 | 80 |
| Asheville, NC | $105,480 | 470 |
| Burlington, NC | $102,120 | 100 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $99,420 | 100 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $97,330 | 270 |
| Greenville, NC | $82,880 | 220 |
| Jacksonville, NC | $81,660 | 170 |
Highest-paying states for lawyers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $207,860 |
| District of Columbia | $195,190 |
| California | $195,080 |
| Massachusetts | $176,680 |
| Delaware | $173,510 |
| Colorado | $168,520 |
| Virginia | $167,210 |
| Connecticut | $163,600 |
| New Jersey | $161,430 |
| Illinois | $160,800 |
Related jobs in North Carolina
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers | $129,960 | $62.48 |
| Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators | $75,320 | $36.21 |
| Paralegals and Legal Assistants | $57,500 | $27.64 |
| Legal Support Workers, All Other | $63,170 | $30.37 |
| Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers | $50,500 | $24.28 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 23-1011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a lawyer make in North Carolina?
The median salary for lawyers in North Carolina is $127,710 a year, or $61.40 an hour. Pay ranges from $61,610 for the lowest-paid 10% to $323,720 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid lawyers make in North Carolina?
The top 10% of lawyers in North Carolina earn at least $323,720 a year. The top 25% earn $210,130 or more.
What is the starting pay for lawyers in North Carolina?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $61,610 a year, and a quarter of lawyers earn $82,220 or less.
How many lawyers work in North Carolina?
About 17,000 lawyers are employed in North Carolina, not counting the self-employed.